Electrode



rams a... 16, 1921.

"PATENT OFFICE.

nnnxiunenmmnr, or :anw YORK, N. Y.

\mc'rnons.

Application filed lovembei ly lm. Serial no. eases.

This invention relates nto electrodes such as are employed in electrolytic systems for the 'rotection of containers such as boilers, con ensers and the like, and my improvements are directed to the novel construction and arrangement of parts in an electrode of this character whereby it is enabled to support an anode projected within a boiler or the like, and conduct current thereto,

in while itself being both efliciently insulated and rendered moisture-proof.

Among other features my invention includes theemployment of a current conducting member, in two parts, with intermediate interconnecting means, one part being adapted to carry the-anode, and said part being of a character to render its replacement both convenient and inexpensive.

Another feature of my invention consists in the provision of separate enclosing and insulating means for the respective parts of the current conducting member.

Still another feature of my invention consists in means for uniting the said separate as enclosing means and ininsulating them from each other.

Also my invention includes the (provision of a hollow insulation member a apted to surround the anode carrying art of the current conducting member, an to provide a longitudinally extensive, non-conductive surface between the anode and the metallic shell engaging portion of the'electrode.

Other features and advantages of my 1nvention will hereinafter appear. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a ongitudinal, sectional view of m improved electrode, directly connected to a oiler shell. m Fig. 2 is an. enlarged, detail view of bolt connecting means, showing exaggerated dimensionally the nature of the'insulating and moisture exclusion means.-

Fig. 3 is a similar view ofthe inner or- I tion of the insulating distance mem r, showin the nature of the moisture exclusion means here employed, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fi 1. 1 I. gince my present invention is concerned particularly with the organism of my improved electrode for use in the well known electrolytic s stems for the protection of boilers and t alike, I have deemed it un- II necessary in this application to describe or illustrate other than those parts which .enter 7, extends a radial flange into-the construction and application of the electrode.

Therefore, let 1 indicate the shell of a boiler or the like, said shell being provided with a threaded orifice 2, of relatively small size, to receive athreaded tube 3, which may be of steel or other desirable metallic material. The tube 3, which is the supporting part of the electrode, is by means of its thread, tightly screwed into the shell to a lengthwise adjusted position, and is secured in that position by means of nuts 4, 4, that are placed with intervening washers 5, 5, upon the tube at the respective sides of shell 1.' It will be appreciated that this form of connection between the electrode and shell is of the simplest nature possible, besides beingsturdy, water tight and durable. The threaded tube 3 terminates inwardly in a squared portion 6, for engagement by a wrench when screwing said tube into the shell, and from said s uared portion there 7, which is provided with bolt holes 8.

Opposed to the inner end of tube 3 is a fitting 9, having an axial, threaded recess 10, into which is screwed the threaded end 11 of a rod 12 that lies within tube 3, insulated from said tube by a sleeve 13 of fibre or other insulation material. The rod 12, which forms a part of the current carrying member, extends out beyond the outer end of tube 3, and is there threaded to receive a nut 14 that is screwed thereon into clamping relation with a washer 14 at the end of sleeve 13, that projects a suflicient distance from the end of tube 3 to leave a gapbe tween said nut and tube end, thereby pre-- venting the flow of current from rod 12 to shell 1 through tube 3. A terminal 15 is engaged with rod 12, and secured thereto between nut 14 and a binding nut 16. .The

fitting 9 has a radial flange 17, opposed to flange 7, but of smaller diameter, the flange 17 being provided with bolt holes 17 aligned with bolt holes 8, for the reception of bolts 18, which are provided with heads 19 and securing nuts 20. Also the fitting 9- has a central boss 21,, which is provided with a threaded axial recess 22, to receive the threaded end23 of a current carrying memher or rod 24, whose other threaded lend-25 is adapted tosupport an anode bar 26,

' A hollow distance member 27,. ofporcelain or other suitable insulation material, surrounds the rod 24 and fitting 9, and is heldin place longitudinally between the flange 7 an a clam ing nut 28 placed upon the threaded end 25 of rod 24.

The interior of member 27 is cylindrical for the. forward portion 29 of its length and is there of slightly greater diameter than rod 24, with which it-is in concentric relation. But the interior of member 27 enlarges rearwardly of portion 29, thereby resulting in the formation of a rearward, shell-like, concentric wall 31, having a flat end 32, that is o posed to the forward surface of flange 7.

referably the member 27 is of conoidal form exteriorly, tapering forwardly toward the nut 28.

From the foregoing description of parts and their interconnected arrangement it will be gathered that the flow of current from terminal 15 to the anode, is by way of rod 12, fitting 9 and rod 24, but particular means are resorted to by me and will be described hereinafter for insulating all other parts of the electrode organism from said current carrying elements, to the end that the anode alone, in its predetermined, distanced relation within the boiler or the like, may be the current distributing agent, and whereby short circuiting to other parts of the electrode organism is prevented. Also, particular means have been devised by me and will be described hereinafter for efliciently sealing all joints in the assemblage of the electrode parts, for the exclusion of moisture, to thereby protect the metallic parts against corrosion.

, As insulation means I place a disk 33,.0f mica or equivalent insulating material, between the opposed surfaces of tube 3 with flange 7 and fitting 9 with flange 17, thereby preventing the flow of current from fitting 9 to tube 3 or its flange 7. Further, toprevent the bolts 18 from forming an electrical path between flanges 17 and 7 I provide tubes 34 of mica or the like which ensheath the bolts 18 within the bolt holes. The bolt heads 19 and nuts 20 all bear against metallic washers, which are each identified by the general reference numeral 35, and intermediate said washers and the respective surfaces of the flanges 7 and 17 I place mica disks 36, thereby completing the system of insulation which confines the flow of current along the path provided by the rod 12, fitting 9 and rod 24.

While in the manner indicated the exterior metallic parts of the electrode have been efiiciently insulated from the current carry ing elements 12, 9 and 24, it is also of importance that the joints createdin the fitting together of the electrode parts shall be sealed against the ingress of moisture. Therefore I apply at said joints disks 37 composed of copper gauze, having spread thereon a layer 38 ofnon-conductive composition, such for example as ,manganesite, whlch ,ese,457

fills the interstices of the gauze besides providing a coating at both sides thereof and hardens under the influence of heat, to constitute a moisture proof packing. I have shown such disks of copper gauze, bearing the non-conductive composition, as applied at each side of the mica disks 33 and 36.

The end nut 28 bears against a metallic washer 39, and between washer 39 and the opposed end of member 27 also is interposed a copper gauze washer 37 with its layer of composition 38, to harden and thus serve for the exclusion of moisture.

Fundamentally, as will be perceived, my invention consists in so insulating a holow electrode support, which may be of steel, from its contained current carrying ele ment, that said electrode support, of relatively small cross-sectional area can be screwed directly into an equally small, tapped orifice through the boiler shell, thus simplifying the process of attachment and besides avoiding the boiler weakening eflect involved in producing the relatively large sized orifices which have heretofore been necessary when requiring said orifices to contain insulation seatings for the electrodes sup orted thereb ariations witliin the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim:

1. An electrode for use in electrolytic systems for the protection of boilers and the like comprising a metallic tube adapted to fit directly into the shell of a boiler or the like, a metallic fitting in endwise relation to and insulated from said tube, a current carrying rod extended through said tube and engaged with said fitting, means for insulating said rod from said tube, an anode carrying rod removably engaged with said fitting, and an insulating distance member surrounding said anode carrying rod.

2. In an electrode for use in electrolytic systems for the protection of boilers and the like, in combination, a current carrying member including a fitting and separate removable rods extended from opposite ends thereof, a metallic tube encasing one of said rods, said tube having a flange in opposed relation to said fitting, means for uniting said flange and fitting, and combined insula- I tion and moisture exclusion means interposed between the opposed surfacesof said flange and fitting.

3. An electrode for use in electrolytic sys tems for the protection of boilersor the like comprising a metallic tube adapted to fit directly into the shell of a boiler or the like, said tube containing an insulating lining and having a radial flange, a metallic fitting also having a radial flange, said tube and fitting with their respective flanges being in opposed relation, bolts connecting said flanges, insulation means and moisture exthrough the insulating lining in saidtube and engaging a terminal at its outer end, and a hollow insulating distance membersurrounding the other of said rods and said fitting, said other rod engaging an anode and bearing a nut which binds the distance member against the flange upon the tube.

4. An electrode for use in electrolytic systems for the protection of boilers and the like comprising a current carrying member which includes a terminal engaging rod, an anode engaging rod and an intermediate fitting engaging both said rods, a metallic tube ensheathing said terminal engaging rod, means for insulating said tube from said terminal engaging rod, said tube adapted at one end to fit directly into the shell of a boiler;or the like, flanges respectively upon said tube and fitting in opposed relation,

connecting means for said flanges, insulating means for said connecting means, means for insulating said tube with its flange from said fitting with its flange, an insulating distance member surrounding said anode engaging rod, and securing means for said distance member carried b said anode engaging rod.

5. A device 0% the character described comprising a metallic tube adapted to fit into the shell of a container, an insulating distance member extending from the inner end of said tube, and a current conveying member extending through said tube and said distance member and insulated from said tube.

6. A device of the character described comprising a.metallic tube in electrical connection with the shell of a container, an insulating distance member extending from the inner end of said tube, and a current conveying member extending through said tube and said distance member and insulated from said tube.

Executed this 9th day of November, 1925.

ALEXANDER KIRKALDY; 

